Emergency declared in Russia's Kuban region as dam ruptures VIDEO

A state of emergency has been introduced in the Slavyansky District of Russia’s Krasnodar region following a dam breach on the Kuban River, with residents being evacuated.

Emergency services confirmed a breach, estimated to be 25–30 metres wide, in the embankment dam near the Neftyanik gardening association, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

The rupture is threatening the nearby settlement of Urma, located 9.5 km away.

Local authorities said sirens were activated to alert residents, and evacuation measures are underway. A total of 494 personnel and 25 pieces of equipment have been deployed at the site.

According to the district emergency response service, approximately 30,000 sandbags have been placed to reinforce the dam, and 200 metres of temporary water-filled barriers have been installed.

Local reports said water breached embankments near the khutors of Zapadny (Krasnodar region) and Sobolevsky (Slavyansky District), flooding agricultural land, although no residential buildings have been inundated and there is no threat to residents. The regional operational headquarters said water levels in rivers have begun to decline.

In the Krymsky District, 39 people were evacuated earlier to temporary accommodation, while 17 residents were evacuated in the Slavyansky District. Reinforcement work is continuing near Troitskaya stanitsa, as well as the Troitsky and Prikubansky khutors.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov